Ventilation shutter

ABSTRACT

A ventilation shutter has a frame providing an opening between the exterior and interior of a building. The shutter has a plurality of louvers positioned in the frame. The outer end of each of the louvers has an opening near its upper edge. The shutter has pivot strips attached to an inside edge of each frame side member, the pivot strips configured to interface with outer ends of the plurality of louvers. Each pivot strip has a plurality of pivot pins, with each pivot pin configured to be received in one of the openings in the outer end of one of the plurality of louvers to pivotally mount each of the plurality of louvers in the frame such that each louver is moveable between an open position and a closed position where the bottom edge of one louver engages the top edge of the next lower louver.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention

This invention relates to climate control systems for buildings used to house animals, and more particularly to a ventilation shutter used to control the passage of air between the interior and the outside of the building.

Description of Related Art

Maintaining a proper climate in buildings where living creatures such as poultry, swine or livestock are maintained is highly desirable. A well-controlled environment involves monitoring and regulating the temperature, relative humidity and air quality in the building. For example, properly controlled temperatures enable animals to use feed for growth rather than for body heat. A properly heated animal house results in lower feed costs and increased animal productivity. Additionally, control over the level of humidity in the building is necessary because excess humidity contributes to animal discomfort and promotes the growth of harmful air born bacteria that can cause respiration diseases. Having an elevated humidity level in the animal house may also lead to more frequent changes of bedding and litter which increases production costs. An important component in maintaining a proper environment in such buildings is providing proper ventilation.

There are many designs of air ventilating systems that can be used to control ventilation. These systems typically contain ventilating fans in cooperation with shutters over air openings used to bring in fresh air into and exhaust stale air from the interior of the building. The shutters typically have pivoted louvers moveable between an open position and a closed position. When ambient temperatures are high, movement of air into the interior of the building is essential to maintain proper conditions inside the building. However, when ambient temperatures are low, introduction of cold outside air increases heating costs. Most traditional shutters allow outside air to leak into the building. Leakage of unwanted outside air into the building during cold temperatures increases heating costs, since more fuel is required to maintain the desired temperature. Desirably, the louvers operate automatically in response to the negative or positive pressure created in the building by the ventilation fans. However, with known ventilation shutters of the automatic type, the louvers often do not seal completely, thus allowing outside air to leak into the building.

There is therefore a need for an improved shutter system having multiple louvers which when mounted in the wall of the building will provide an airtight system, resulting in minimal air leakage with minimal heat loss or cold air entering the building.

OVERVIEW OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a ventilation shutter for use in a building having an exhaust fan that provides air flow from an interior of the building to an exterior of the building. The shutter includes a frame providing an opening between the exterior and the interior of the building. The frame has a top member, a bottom member and side members extending between the top member and the bottom member. The shutter has a plurality of louvers positioned in the frame, each of the plurality of louvers having a top edge, a bottom edge and outer ends. Each of the outer ends of each of the plurality of louvers has an opening near the upper edge. Each louver has a curved shape. The shutter has pivot strips attached to an inside edge of each side member, the pivot strips configured to interface with outer ends of the plurality of louvers. Each pivot strip has a plurality of pivot pins, with each pivot pin configured to be received in one of the openings in the outer end of one of the plurality of louvers to pivotally mount each of the plurality of louvers in the frame such that each louver is moveable between an open position and a closed position where the bottom edge of one louver engages the top edge of the next lower louver.

These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features of this invention will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ventilation shutter according to an embodiment of the invention, showing a plurality of louvers in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded view of a portion of the ventilation shutter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the ventilation shutter;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mounting strip into which each louver is mounted; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a part of the frame of the ventilation shutter.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The invention will now be described in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein preferred embodiments are described in detail to enable practice of the invention. Although the invention is described with reference to these specific preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. But to the contrary, the invention includes numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents as will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description.

Referring to FIG. 1, a ventilation shutter 10 has a rectangular frame 12 configured such that the ventilation shutter 10 of the invention can be installed in an opening in a wall of a building to be ventilated. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the ventilation shutter 10 is combined with one or more exhaust fans (not shown) which, when on, will draw air from the inside of the building and exhaust the air outside of the building. The frame 12 includes a top member 14, a bottom member 16 and two side members 18 that comprise the mounting structure for a plurality of louvers 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame 12 has two horizontal internal cross members 22 and two vertical internal cross members 24 to provide rigidity to the frame 12. The use of one or more interior cross members 22, 24 depends upon the size of the ventilation shutter 10 designed for its specific installation.

FIG. 2 shows a portion of one of the side members 18 with the louvers 20 exploded to better illustrate the construction of the ventilation shutter 10. Each louver 20 has a top edge 26, a bottom edge 28 and outer ends 30. Each outer end 30 of the louver 20 is pivotally mounted to a side member 18 of the frame 12. Alternately, one or more outer ends 30 of the louver 20 can be pivotally mounted to a vertical internal cross member 24. Desirably, as best seen in FIG. 3, each louver 20 is formed such that it has an aerodynamic shape.

The inside edge of each side member 18 (and each vertical cross member 22 that also mounts louvers 20) has at least one attached pivot strip 32 configured to interface with the louvers 20. Desirably, as best seen in FIG. 4, each pivot strip 32 is a separately molded component adapted to interface with a plurality of louvers 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot strip 32 is configured to interface with five louvers 20, although each pivot strip 32 can be configured to interface with fewer or more louvers 20 without departing from the scope of the invention. As best seen in FIG. 5, in the illustrated embodiment an inward-facing slot 34 in the side or cross member 18, 24 receives the pivot strip 32 and the pivot strip 32 clamps in the slot 34 with a pair of opposed detents 36. However, other means may be used to attach the pivot strip 32 to the side member 18 of the frame 12 such as tape, glue or screws.

For each louver 20 received by the pivot strip 32, the pivot strip 32 has an inwardly extending pivot pin 40. The pivot pins 40 are desirably between 8 mm and 30 mm, and more desirably between 8 mm and 12 mm. The outer ends 30 of each louver 20 have an opening 42 near the upper edge 26 for receiving the pivot pin 40 such that the louver 20 is capable of pivoting movement about an axis formed by the pivot pins 40 on either side of the louver 20 used to mount the louver 20. Accordingly, the louvers 20 are moveable from an open position to a closed position where the bottom edge 28 of a louver 20 engages the top edge 26 of the next lower louver 20.

Adjacent the pivot pin 40, the pivot strip 32 has a sealing interface 44 formed to match the curved shape of the louver 20. The sealing interface 44 extends inwardly a sufficient distance to engage the surface of the louver 20 along its outer end 30 when the louver 20 is pivotally mounted on the pivot pins 40 and with the louver 20 in a closed position. The engagement of the outer end 30 of the louver 20 with the sealing interface 44 provides for a tight seal when the louvers 20 are closed, thus minimizing any leakage of outside air into the building when the fans are operating. Thus, the louvers 20 will seal tightly against the pivot strips 32 when in a closed position and discourage cold air or light from leaking into the building. Desirably, the louvers 20 will remain in the closed position and not open until fan power is applied. When fans within the building are turned on, negative pressure will pull the louvers 20 in the open position, allowing air to flow through the ventilation shutter 10. The louvers 20 will remain in the open position as long as the fans are in operation.

The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

1. A ventilation shutter for use in a building having an exhaust fan that provides air flow from an interior of the building to an exterior of the building, said shutter comprising: a frame providing an opening between the exterior and the interior of the building, the frame comprising a top member, a bottom member and side members extending between the top member and the bottom member; a plurality of louvers positioned in the frame, each of the plurality of louvers having a top edge, a bottom edge and outer ends, each louver having a curved shape, wherein each of the outer ends of each of the plurality of louvers has an opening near the upper edge; and at least one pivot strip attached to an inside edge of each side member, the at least one pivot strip configured to interface with outer ends of the plurality of louvers, wherein the pivot strip comprises a plurality of pivot pins, each one of the plurality of pivot pins received in one of the openings in the outer end of one of the plurality of louvers to pivotally mount each of the plurality of louvers in the frame such that each louver is moveable between an open position and a closed position where the bottom edge of one louver engages the top edge of the next lower louver.
 2. The ventilation shutter of claim 1 wherein the at least one pivot strip is a separately molded component attached to the frame.
 3. The ventilation shutter of claim 2 wherein an inward-facing slot in the side member receives the pivot strip and the pivot strip clamps in the slot with a pair of opposed detents. 